The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk TF gas tank sending ynit

Does any one sell a gas tank sending unit (for a 55-59 TF) with 3/8 inch fuel line, instead of 5/16 inch fuel line? The fuel tank is located in the stock location, behind the seat.

Im curious, why would you need a 3/8" line?

My concern is having enough fuel capacity to feed my 383. Right now I have an 8an line connected to the pick up tube, essentially creating a giant fuel log before the fuel pump. But just like the flow of air though an exhaust system, the flow is restricted to the smallest section, which is the 5/16 fuel pickup in the tank.

gofsbuick,

I have a copy of Lightning Reference which is a fluid power designers bible. I tried to look up the flow stats on a tube 5/16" in diameter. I was going to amaze you with my knowledge but I couldn't figure out what I was reading...duh!

I will fall back on my gut feeling. I picture a huge 4 barrel carburetor, working WOT as you blast down the road. I cannot see all the jets in that carburetor passing more fuel through their tiny orifices than that 5/16" pickup tube can supply.

Add this to the fact that there is a pretty big bowl full of fuel, not to mention the contents of all the plumbing on the discharge side of the pump. It seems to my untrained brain that your current pickup tube would be completely adequate, but I have been real wrong before.

Stuart

I agree w/ Stuart, if any engine you'll be using on the street uses more fuel than a good pump can pull out of a stock pickup, you better have a real bundle of dough to fill up every couple miles .... I know a guy with a built 427 in a 55 with a stock tank and pickup tube and stock line right to the pump, never heard of him having starving problems, and he keeps that 750cfm edelbrock howling sometimes .... in the real world, your flow is only restricted by how much the pump can move

Bill

You know, I've already been told by a member on this board that me and Chevrolet (published) really do not know anything about tuning. I said nothing until now.
The guy with the 427 in the 55 removed that engine out of what? Probably a Corvette and that Corvette (which is considerably lighter than a 55 TF truck) came equipped with 3/8 fuel line. Typical HP rating for 5/16 fuel line is approximately 250hp and 3/8 for around 375 HP. Most of the V8 engines we install into our trucks are from late 60s to mid 70s vintage, when Chevrolet increased fuel line size to 3/8.
I really don't want to disrespect your opinion and knowledge, but I would really prefer to pull fuel though a 3/8 pickup, as I'm feeding a decently stout SBC engine though a 830cfm Holley and a VictorJr intake. So could you please, if you know of any vendor that can accomodate my needs, before I have a fuel tank company disassemble a stock sender and reassemble it with 3/8 line.
Thank you

well then, the simple answer is no, there is no different TF sender available ... if the Vette had a 3/8 line, and the 55 has a 5/16, then from Eds experience, the 3/8 wasn't really necessary, but hey! we all do our rigs the way we want

Bill

just couldn't end it there, huh?

Yes, thank you.

nope, just hadta see if you were still taggin along behind

Bill

Just to throw a little more fuel on the fire, so to speak, I had to give my dad a call. Im more into original stuff and hes an old hotrodder at heart.

He used to run a 427 with a 6-71 blower and two 4 barrel carbs. If he remembers right he only used 1/4" lines, and he said it had no problems with being starved for fuel. But having a blower also increases the volumetric effieciency of the fuel.

While my belief is that 5/16" is fine, you certainly cant hurt anything by going with a larger size.

gofstbuick, do you have any pics of your truck? We like that sort of thing!

This is the first tim I've tried uploading a link to picture. I think I got it to work right. Right now the truck is a pellet storage device plus the new suspension pieces. Hopefully I can work on removing the front end this summer and maybe have the engine in by the end of the year. Thanks for asking about pictures.
http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563571974HGueyP

Cool! I like that color of blue. My '53 had a flatbed on it when I bought it and it was the best mobile tool bench ever! I sold the flatbed and boy do I miss the extra space.

I just received my modified sending unit today. So I added the picture of the sending unit with the 3/8 inch fuel pick up tube to the webshot album above. Cost me $95 for peace of mind, but I'm very happy. It fits in the tank better than when it had the 5/16 line attached. Now all I need is a 3/8 screen from a 55 chevy wagon, nomad or 60-mid 70 corvette and I will be done

ever see how much gas will come out of a 1/4 inch line backed up up by a fule pump anymore is overkill

I am going to get up on the soap box again.

If a 5/16 line would do the job for the high horse power engines, the Detroit bean counters would never have allowed 3/8 lines and fuel pumps to be installed on the high performance cars. Saving a dime on each unit, when you are talking thousands of units, is more important than adding bells and whistles.

Use the 3/8 lines and fuel pump, and sleep good.

Thank you for saying so.

For those of you that want to continue with your stories of feeding fuel though 1/4 or 5/16 or whatever, go ahead, but I really DON'T CARE and I've said so above. It's my engine, my truck and my money. I'm done!!!!!!!